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02 Jul 2024, 22:32
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
95%
(hard)
Question Stats:
38% (01:45) correct
62%
(01:57)
wrong
based on 148
sessions
History
Date
Time
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Not Attempted Yet
Environmentalists argue that the recent decline in the population of the Pacific salmon is primarily due to the increase in water pollution levels in the rivers where the salmon spawn. They claim that pollutants have created an environment that is hostile to the salmon, preventing them from reproducing successfully. Therefore, they assert that reducing water pollution will lead to a recovery in the salmon population.Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
A) There are no other significant factors contributing to the decline in the Pacific salmon population.
B) The level of water pollution in the rivers where the salmon spawn has increased significantly in recent years.
C) The salmon population has declined in all rivers where they spawn, not just in those with increased pollution levels.
D) Reducing water pollution in the rivers where salmon spawn will not have any adverse effects on other species of fish.
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
A) There are no other significant factors contributing to the decline in the Pacific salmon population.
B) The level of water pollution in the rivers where the salmon spawn has increased significantly in recent years.
C) The salmon population has declined in all rivers where they spawn, not just in those with increased pollution levels.
D) Reducing water pollution in the rivers where salmon spawn will not have any adverse effects on other species of fish.
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
05 Jul 2024, 10:52
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This question needs some revision, or at least its answer needs to be changed. First, an Assumption question shouldn't be about choosing the most important assumption. Only one answer should correctly represent an assumption. In this case, A definitely is an assumption, so it must be correct unless it is rewritten. (If there are other significant threats, then it's doubtful that simply reversing this one threat will cause a recovery in the salmon population.
As for E, it isn't really an assumption. We can't be expected to know whether a cause is direct in order for removing it to reverse the problem. Let's look at a very simple but indirect way that pollutants might cause a "hostile environment." What if for some reason pollutants attract sharks, who then eat the salmon, this preventing them from reproducing? Then if we reduce pollution levels, the problem might well be reversed and salmon populations could recover. The argument doesn't rely on pollution directly affecting salmon at all, let alone specifically targeting their reproductive systems.
As for E, it isn't really an assumption. We can't be expected to know whether a cause is direct in order for removing it to reverse the problem. Let's look at a very simple but indirect way that pollutants might cause a "hostile environment." What if for some reason pollutants attract sharks, who then eat the salmon, this preventing them from reproducing? Then if we reduce pollution levels, the problem might well be reversed and salmon populations could recover. The argument doesn't rely on pollution directly affecting salmon at all, let alone specifically targeting their reproductive systems.
General Discussion
02 Jul 2024, 22:34
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To identify the assumption, we need to find the unstated premise that the argument relies on. The argument claims that water pollution is the primary cause of the decline in the salmon population and that reducing pollution will lead to a recovery.
A) There are no other significant factors contributing to the decline in the Pacific salmon population.
This is a strong contender because if other significant factors are contributing to the decline, addressing only water pollution might not lead to a recovery in the salmon population.
B) The level of water pollution in the rivers where the salmon spawn has increased significantly in recent years.
While this might support the argument, it is not an assumption the argument depends on. The argument could still hold if pollution levels were always high.
C) The salmon population has declined in all rivers where they spawn, not just in those with increased pollution levels.
This weakens the argument rather than supports it because it suggests factors other than pollution could be responsible for the decline.
D) Reducing water pollution in the rivers where salmon spawn will not have any adverse effects on other species of fish.
This is irrelevant to the argument about the salmon population recovery.
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
This is essential to the argument. If the pollutants are not directly harmful, reducing pollution might not lead to a recovery in the salmon population.
The correct answer is:
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
A) There are no other significant factors contributing to the decline in the Pacific salmon population.
This is a strong contender because if other significant factors are contributing to the decline, addressing only water pollution might not lead to a recovery in the salmon population.
B) The level of water pollution in the rivers where the salmon spawn has increased significantly in recent years.
While this might support the argument, it is not an assumption the argument depends on. The argument could still hold if pollution levels were always high.
C) The salmon population has declined in all rivers where they spawn, not just in those with increased pollution levels.
This weakens the argument rather than supports it because it suggests factors other than pollution could be responsible for the decline.
D) Reducing water pollution in the rivers where salmon spawn will not have any adverse effects on other species of fish.
This is irrelevant to the argument about the salmon population recovery.
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
This is essential to the argument. If the pollutants are not directly harmful, reducing pollution might not lead to a recovery in the salmon population.
The correct answer is:
E) The pollutants in the rivers are directly harmful to the reproductive processes of the Pacific salmon.
